Smolder

Chapter 1: Krys

Chapter 1

Nothing to do but stab the soldiers on the ground more. Their blood rolls in the dust of the alley, into the bread they stole from me. I have to make sure they die. Or else I will.

I look behind me. I see a shorter girl, watching me from around the alley. She sees me looking and runs. Can't let her escape.

I'm pretty fast, so I catch her fairly easily. I drag her into another alley nearby. She tries to scream, but I cover her mouth. "I don't want to hurt you. I really don't" She stops trying to scream. "Please don't make me."

I let her go and she turns towards me. I didn't notice at first glance, but her eyes are striking green. It takes my breath away. "How long were you watching?"

"The whole thing. I know you didn't have a choice. The soldiers started the whole thing." I take a breath of relief. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. They deserved it."

She looks like she's telling the truth, but I don't have the experience to tell for sure. "I don't know if I can trust you."

"I wouldn't trust me either." She wrings her hands. "What are you going to do? They'll be after you soon."

Ice shoots through my body. "Did someone else see?"

"I think so. Another guard saw the two bodies and ran to the outpost. They'll be here soon."

I swear. I look towards her. Can I really trust her not to tell?

She seems to read my mind. "I'll go with you. At least partway. If you're that worried." I'm glad she made that offer before I made her come with me. "Let's go. I know a place." She grabs my hand and starts to drag me out of the alley. Her blond hair, covered in dirt, waves halfway down her back.

"Where are we going?" For all I knew, she was leading me straight to the guards again.

"My house." No more words are spoken between us. She just drags me over to the apothecary That's it. I know where I've seen this girl before. She is the daughter of the old man who runs the apothecary. I think she's my age. Her name is...Ellen? Emma? Something like that. I don't remember exactly.

She peeks inside, then opens the door and drags me in. Up the stairs is her room. There is an overwhelming smell of herbs as she closes and locks the door. "We'll stay here until there's an opportunity to run."

I peek through a window. Beyond a garden in the process of being planted is the street, which is empty. But as I'm looking, four guards run out into the street and look around. The girl pulls me from the window. "Don't let them see you!" I sit on the wooden floor, and she sits next to the window. She looks away from it and at me. "I never asked your name, did I? Mine's Evelynn."

So, not Ellen. "My name is Krys."

"You're the son of the butcher, aren't you? I've seen you around there a lot."

"Grandson, but yes."

She grins at me. "Nice to meet you." She looks out the window, then shuts the curtains again. "There are more. We'll stay here a bit longer."

I look around her room. "What are you growing?"

"Herbs for cooking. We have vegetables in the garden down there." Evelynn sits back and combs through her hair with her hands. "I was working there when I heard you and the guards. I wanted to see what was going on." That explains why she was there.